Rockets snag Czech in draft

Czech forward Tomas Soustal became a Kelowna Rocket Wednesday after been taken with the 60th pick in the CHL import draft.

The Kelowna Rockets added a forward with size to its stable of prospects Wednesday morning as the CHL held its annual draft of import players.

After putting up the most points in the CHL last season, the Rockets were slotted in to pick 60th out of the 60 teams across the CHL as teams in the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League alternated picks throughout the two round import draft.

Kelowna selected Tomas Soustal with pick number 60 in the draft, a 17-year-old forward from the Czech Republic. At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, Soustal will bring size and youth to the Rockets.

"He's a gifted player and he has size," says Rockets president/GM Bruce Hamilton.

"I think it's important that we add size to our roster."

Rockets new head coach Dan Lambert has been in touch with Soustal, who will play for the Czech Republic in the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 hockey championships this summer before flying to Kelowna to take part in the Rockets training camp.

"He's a big kid with good hands and good shot," says Lambert.

"He's a young guy at 17 so down the road he will be counted on to provide some offense."

The Rockets now have the maximum two imports as Swiss forward Kris Schmidli will also be back in Kelowna for training camp after completing his rookie season last year with the Rockets, putting up nine goals and 26 assists in 68 games.